Dylan A. Thomas v. Lincoln Regional Center, Dr. Shawn Curtis, Jeffery Austile, and Kaitlyn Liss

Summary

The United States District Court for the District of Nebraska grants Dylan A. Thomas leave to proceed in forma pauperis and directs that his complaint be filed without payment of fees. The court explains that it will conduct an initial review under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) and notes that the plaintiff is not a prisoner under the Prison Litigation Reform Act because he is committed to a state mental institution.

Holdings

1. Plaintiff was financially eligible to proceed in forma pauperis, so the court granted leave and ordered that the complaint be filed without payment of fees.
2. A person committed to a state mental institution pursuant to a mental-health commitment is not a prisoner within the meaning of the Prison Litigation Reform Act.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Plaintiff qualified financially for leave to proceed in forma pauperis.
2. Whether Plaintiff's commitment to a state mental institution made him a prisoner subject to the Prison Litigation Reform Act.

Disposition

other